PRINCIPLES OF ENSURING TRANSPARENCY IN THE ACTIVITIES OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT BODIES

Abstract

The article examines the practice of enshrining the principles of transparency and openness in the activities of public authorities in international legal acts and outlines their regulatory and legal basis in the activities of local self-government bodies in Ukraine. It is noted that the information and communication activities of government structures in Ukraine are regulated by the norms of the Constitution of Ukraine, Ukrainian laws, decisions of the Cabinet of Ministers, and other regulatory and legal acts. It is emphasized that Ukrainian legislation does not provide a single definition of the concepts of “openness” and “transparency,” but applies the relevant principles in various areas. It is noted that a number of important laws adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in 2024 are aimed at developing an administrative and legal mechanism to ensure the transparency and openness of local councils, involving citizens in decision-making, and improving the accountability of authorities to residents. The changes are more defined as legislative requirements in the following areas of development: community statutes, youth par- ticipation, integration of internally displaced persons, transparency and accountability, participatory budgeting, public hearings and local initiatives, public consultations, advisory and consultative bodies. Particular attention is paid to the results of a study on the information openness and transparency of local councils in wartime, conducted as part of the joint initiative “European Renaissance of Ukraine,” as well as the results of the Transparent Cities program’s assessment of the level of transparency in terms of city councils’ compliance with legislation on local self-government, access to public information, and the principles of state regulatory policy in the field of economic activity. It is suggested that they can be used as a basis for developing a systematic set of tools and mechanisms for implementing a strategy of transparency and openness of public authorities in Ukraine, as demonstrated by the example of the Poltava City Council.